Rotary steam engine



June 12,1928 7 1,673,504-

E. GROESBECK ROTARY STEAM ENGINE Filed July 10, 1325 r 4 Sheets-Sheet- 2 June 12, 1928. 1,673,504

7 E. GRQESBECK ROTARY STEAM ENGINE Filed July 10, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 aw Q 6H0: mu

Patented June 12, 1928.

ERNIE GROESBEGK, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

Application filed July 10, 1925. Serial No. 42,782.

This invention relates to steam engines, and more particularly to rotary steam engines.

An object of the invention is to provide a rotary steam engine in which a rotor is employed in a cylindrical casing and is provided with a vane bridging the space between the rotor and the casing, and in which i reversing valves are provided to permit the engine to be run in either direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inlet reversing valve in the form of a sleeve adapted to surround a cut off valve so arranged that the cut off valve will function to deliver the proper amount of steam when the reversing valve is in either of its two positions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for shiftin the cams by means of which the cut off valve is oscillated when the reversing valve is'shifted.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is an end elevation,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view line 22 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is afront elevation.

Figure 4 is a plan view, I

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a verticalsectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 5 with the valves and associated parts arranged in a reverse posi' tion to the showing in Figure 2,

Figure 7 is a vertical sectionalview on line 77 of Figure 6, and,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the inlet reversing valve and the cut oif valve.

numeral 1 designates generally a suitable casin which, as shown. is cylindric cross sect-ion and is mounted on a suitable base or foundation .2. The ends of the casing are provided with suitable closure plates or heads 3 and the interior of the casing is provided with a center partition 4 dividing it into two chambers. A rotor 5 is arranged in. each of the chambersathe rotors being mounted on a main. shaft 6 by means of keys 7 The shaft projects from each end of the casing and extends through suitable bearings 8 carried by the end plates. These bearings may be provided with suitable packing glands 9.

The side walls of the rotors are provided Referring to the drawings, the reference with suitable rings 10 adapted to contact with the end walls ofthe casing and a center partition. As shown, these rings are mounted in circumferential grooves and are normally pressed outward by means of springs 11,. arranged in the grooves behind the rings. The rotor is smaller in diameter than the diameter of the casing and is provlded with a vane 12 adapted to bridge the space between the periphery of the rotor and the inner wall of the casing. As shown, the outer face of the vane is provided with a groove adapted to receive a packing gib 13 normally forced outward into engagement with the wall of the-casingby means of springs 14. WVhen the engine is provided with two chambers, as shown. the vanes are preferably arranged diametrically opposite each other, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings.

A swinging abutment 1 5 is adapted to extend into the casing to bridge the space between the periphery of the rotor andthe inner wall of the casing and thus cooperate with the vane to form a chamber for the reception of the steam. or-other fluid. Suitable -means are provided for raising the abutment on each revolution topermit the vane to passit. As shown, the abutment is mounted in a chamber 16 arranged over the chamber of the casing and is adapted to swingto the operative position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings through a slot connecting the ma1n casing and chamber 16.

One abutment is providedfor each of the sections of the engine and these abutments are carried by arms 17 mounted on shafts 18extending through the end walls and journaled in the partition. The arms 17 are secured to the shafts 18 by means of keys '19 to oscillate therewith. A cam 20 is mounted on each end of the main shaft 6 and these cams are keyed to the shaft to revolve therewith and at the same time permit movement of the cam longitudinally of the shaft. The cam is divided longitudinally into a plurality of sections, the inner one of which is provided with a high point 21 adaptedto'be engaged by a roller 22 mounted on the bottom of arod 23 which extends upwardly through a suitable opening in an extension or arm 24:. carried on the end plate. The outer end of this rod is adapted to engage an arm or crank 2 5 (see Figure 1) which is keyed toand carried by the shaft 18. Above the crank, I provide a spring 26 mounted on a bolt 27 and adapted to normally force the crank downwardly to retain the swinging gate in operative position.

The casing is provided with an inlet chamber 27 having a passage 28 to which a steam supply pipe is adapted to be connected. The inner end of the passage 28 communicates with a valve chamber 29 adapted to receive a throttle valve 30. The opposite side of the chamber 29 communicates with a passage 31 which inturn communicates with a cylindrical valve chamber 32., The valve chamber 32 isiprovided with a pair of openings 33, one for each section of the engine. Within the valve chamber, I provide a reversing valve and a out off valve. The reversing valve is arranged in the form of a hollow sleeve 34 (see Figure 8) and is provided with a pair of spaced openings'35 on one side and a single openingBG, on the opposite side. The sleeve 34 extends through the valve chamber and isprovidcd with a groove 37 to receive a pin 38 projecting through the tapped hole in the inlet casing. The arrangement of the end of the pin in the groove prevents longitudinal movement of the valve and thus retains the openings in proper alinement with the passage or opening 33. As shown, (see Figures 5 and 8) the end portions of the sleeve are hollow and are adapted to receive tubular cut ofit' valves 39. The cut 1 off valve is provided with a port or opening 40 adapted to communicate with either of the openings 35. On the opposite side, the cutoft valve is provided with a relatively large port or opening 41. The valves project from the valve casing through extensions 42 formed on the side plates 3 and are provided with suitable packing to prevent leakage. As shown, a packing gland 43 surrounds the projecting end of the sleeve valve 34, andsuitable packing 43 may be arranged inwardly of this packing gland. The end of the sleeve valve 84 is internally threaded. adapted to receive a packing gland 45 and the cut off valve 39 is provided with a stub shaft 44 on its end. projecting through this packing gland. Beyond the valve casing, the inlet chamber is provided with a passage 46 adapted to communicate with the main chamber on one side of the swinging abutment 15. It is further provided with a second passage 47 communicating with a port or passage 48 in the swinging abutmentwhen the latter is in lowered position to deliver steam or other fluid to the opposite side of the swinging gate.

The cut off valve is. oscillated upon each revolution: of the rotor to deliver a regulated quantity of steam or other fluid thereto. As shown. an arm 49 is connected to the stub shaft 44 and serves as a crank. This arm'is pivotally connected to a link 50 by means of a pin 51. As shown, the link is pivoted at 52 on an arm or bracket 53 carried by the end plate and beyond the pivot is provided with a flattened head 54. The cam on the main shaft is provided with a second high point 55 adapted to contact with a rod 56 mounted in a vertical opening in the arm or extension 24 and this rod engages the link 50 tov oscillate the valve.

Above the link 50, I provide a spring 56 mounted on a bolt 57. This spring engages the top of the flattened head 54 to retain the link and valve in their original positions after the rod 56 rides past the high point 55 of the cam.

Each section of the casing is also provided with a pair of outlet openings 57 arranged on opposite sides of the swinging abutment and communicating with passages 58 in the center partition 4 (see Figures 5 and 7). An exhaust valve chamber is arranged above the cylinder casing and is provided with an exhaust valve 59. The exhaust valve is in the form of a sleeve closed at its outer end and is provided with a pair of openings 61 and 62 adapted to communicate with the exhaust ports 57 of the engine casing. As shown, the openings 61 and 62 are arranged substantially a quarter revolution apart whereby only one of said openings can be in communication with its corresponding exhaust port at a time. The exhaust valve is further provided with an opening 63 communicating with an outlet 64 which may be open to the atmosphere or connected to. a suitable outlet (not shown).

The inlet reversing valve and the exhaust valve are adapted to be actuated simultaneously. As shown, a shaft 65 is arranged on top of the casing and mounted in suitable bearings 66. This shaft is provided with a sleeve 67 carrying a lever 68 which is adapted to be manually operated to reverse the valve. On one end of the shaft, I provide a sleeve 69 having an arm or crank 70 extending downwardly therefrom and this arm or crank is connected to an arm or crank 71 mounted on the outer end of the exhaust valve by means of a link 72. As shown. the end of the exhaust valve is reduced, forming a shaft 73 to which the crank is adapted to be connected and a. suitable packing gland 74 is arranged around this shaft. I

The opposite end of the shaft 65 is connected to a lever 75. The free end-of the lever 75 is provided with an enlargement 76, A rod or arm 78 is connected to the lever 75,

the rod being provided with a ball 7 8' on its end adapted to be received in the enlar ement 76. An arm 79 is connected to t e sleeve valve and this arm is provided with a socket for thereception of a ball 79 carried on the lower end of the rod 78.. The arm 79 is thus connected to the shaft 65 through the lever 75 and the rod 78 which servesas a link, to be oscillated when the shaft is oscillated. Suitable means are pro-" vided for shifting the cams longitudinally of the shaft when the valves areshifted to properly time the operation of the swinging gate and the cut oiii' valve. As shown, a shaft 80 is arranged in suitable bearings 81 on the top of the casing at right angles to the shaft 65. This shat't carries a sleeve 82 having a pair of spaced fingers 83 adapted to receive a pin 84 carriedby the lever 68. It is further provided with a pair of collars 85 arranged on opposite sides of one of the bearings to limit the movement of the shaft. An arm 86 is connected to each end of the shaft 80 and the lower ends of these arms are provided with yokes 87 adapted to be received between a pair of spaced flanges 88 on the cam which form a groove 89 for the reception of said yoke. As shown, the arms 86 are pivotally mounted in the arms or brackets 24, as indicated at 90.

The throttle valve is controlled by a governor driven from the main shaft. As shown, a pulley 91 is mounted on the shaft and is adapted to receive a belt 92 passing over a pulley 98 carried by a shaft 94. The shaft 94 is mounted in suitable bearings 95. A bevel gear 96 is mounted on the shaft and meshes with abevel gear 97 carried by a stationary collar 98 of the governor. The governor is provided with fly balls 99 connected to the collar 98 by links 100 and likewise connected to a movable collar 101 by means of links 102. A rod 103 is connected to the movable collar and is in turn connected to an arm 104 carried by the throttle valve.

In operation, the rotor. may be revolved in either direction depending on the position of the valves 34 and 59. With the valves in the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the fluid is delivered to the cylinder through the opening 46 and the rotor revolves in a counterclockwise direction. The cut off valve 89 is oscillated by the cam 55, through the rod 56 and levers 49 and 50. The spring 56 serves to cut off the valve quickly at the end of the stroke and return it to its original position. Thisalternately brings the opening into and out of com munication with the port or passage 35 to deliver steam through the enlarged opening 41 to either passage 4601' 47, depending upon the position of the reversing valve. With the reversing valve in the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the steam is delivered to the opening 46 to engage the face of the vane 12 and drive the rotor in av counterclockwise direction, as stated. The steam exhausts through the opening 57 to the right of the abutment which is then in communication with the opening 62 in the exhaust valve. as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings.

As the vaneapproaches the abutment, the

swinging gate is raised by the cam 21, rod

the shaft 80 engaging the bearing 81. The oscillation of the shaft through the lever 68 swings the exhaust valve a-quarte'r revolution through the crank and lever 71and link 72 to bring the opening 61 in communi cation with the exhaust port 57 to the left i of the abutment, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. The sleeve 34 is also oscillated through a rod 77, an arm and arm 79 to bring the opening 36 in communication with the inlet passage 47 and the other opening 35 in communication with the port or passage 31. Fluid will then be delivered through the passage 48 in the abutment to the op-v posite side of the abutment to turn the rotor in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 6 of the drawings. The opening 41 in the cut oil valve is large enough to establish comun'mication with either the opening 46 or 47 when the cut ofi valve is in open position. The fluid then exhausts through the port 57 to the left of the abutment and the opening 61 of the ex haustvalve. The throttle valve is partially opened or closed by the governor through the rod 103 and the arm 104.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be' re sorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a casing, a rotor mounted in said casing, a vane carried by said rotor and adapted to engage th wall of the casing, a movable abutment normally engaging the periphery of said rotor, means for raising said abutment to permit passage of said vane, an inlet valve chamber arranged adjacent said casing, said casing being provided with a pair of passages extending from said valve chamber to the interior of said casing on opposite sides of said abutment, said valve chamber being provided with an inlet passage, a reversing sleeve valve arranged in said valve chamber, said sleeve valve being provided with aport in the side adjacent the interior of said casing and with two ports on the side adjacent said inlet passage whereby either of said two ports may be connected to said inlet passage,

a tubular out off valve arranged within said reversmg sleeve valve, said cut off valve being provided with a pair of passages adapted to cooperate with said reversing sleeve valve in either of its positions, a cylindrical v exhaust valve chamber, said casing further common mefiis for simultaneously shifting being provided with a pair of exhaust pas- ,said cut off and exhaust valves.

sages communicating at one end with the in- 2. A device constructed in accordance with terior of said casing on opposite sides of said claim 1 wherein said inlet valve chamber 6 abutment and at their opposite ends with is arranged to one side of said abutment,

said exhaustvalve chamber, an exhaust sleeve said abutment being provided with an anguvalve arranged in. said exhaust valve chamber lar passage therethrough communicating at 20 and provided with a pair of ports adapted to one end with tlieintcrior of the casing on be selectively brought into registration with one side of the abutment and at its opposite 10 said exhaust passages, common actuating end with one of the passages extending from means for said cut off and exhaust valves said inlet valve chamber. for alternately admitting fluid pressure to in testimony whereofil afiix my signature. and discharging it from said casing, and ERNIE GROESBECK. 

